Manifold structure and method for construction thereof



J- R. CREITZ April 26, 1966 MANIFOLD STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION THEREOF Fig. 5

INVENTOR James A. Creif A TTOR/VE Y United States Patent 3,247,834 MANIFOLD STRUCTURE AND METHQD FUR C(PNSTRUKITKON THEREUF James R. Creitz, R0. Box 15555, Tulsa, Okla. Filed Aug. 8, 1963, ar. No. 304L756 3 Ciaims. ((Il. 123*52) method for constructing the manifold.

A manifold is a structure normally utilized in conjunction with an internal combustion engine having multicylinders and distributes a common fuel-air mixture to each of the plurality of cylinders. it is important that the manifold be well chosen and correctly patterned whereby equal or uniform distribution of fuel and air to the various cylinders is provided without any segregation of the heavier fuel particles from the air stream and to maintain pressure drop by friction at a minimum. The manifold is normally interposed between the engine cylinders and the carburetor in such a manner that the discharge end of the manifold is secured to the inlet ports of the cylinders and the other end thereof is in communication with the outlet of the carburetor. It is often difficult to maintain a uniform fuel-air mixture for all of the cylinders and the normal manifold structures available today are designed in such a manner to provide what is commonly known as one hundred and eighty degrees breathing. In addition, the internal structure of the usual manifold available today normally includes a plurality of branches which are preferably of approximately the same length with a branch provided for each cylinder. There are many disadvantages inherent in the common manifold designed of today and it is found that pressure reduction is often excessive and the full efiiciency of all the carburetor venturis is not utilized.

The present invention contemplates a novel manifold structure particularly designed and constructed with an internal area open or common to all the engine cylinders. The venturi or venturis of the carburetor are also open to a common area and it is found that this results in considerably less reduction in pressure while still providing a great increase in the revolutions per minute of the engine. The novel construction provides for full efficiency of all the venturis in installations wherein multiple barrel carburetors are utilized as well as full efliciency for each and every engine cylinder. This high efficiency increases the revolutions per minute of the engine with a resultant increase in the horsepower thereof since the speed with which the engine can draw in fuel is directly related to the performance thereof. In addition, the particular arrangement and construction of the novel manifold provides a three hundred and sixty degree breathing as opposed to the present one hundred and eighty degrees breathing of the usual manifold in use today. This maintains the fuel-air in mixture, greatly reducing or substantially eliminating any liquid drop out, thus increasing the quantity of fuel per volume of air which may be taken into the engine. This is an extremely desirable result which is often very difficult to achieve with present day manifold structures.

This invention also contemplates a novel method for manufacturing of manifold structures of the type disclosed herein wherein a complete line of manifolds for utilization with substantially all models of carburetors and superchargers may be efficiently and economically constructed from a single basic or common pattern. The upper surface of the novel manifold is provided with a fiat or planar 3,247,834 Patented Apr. 26, 13966 'ice surface whereby the upper portion of the core box or roof of the core box may be provided with a variety or plurality of adaptors in order that the common basic pattern may be used for the construction of substantially any manifold model. The pattern and core may be quickly altered by simply changing the roof adaptor of the core box to provide the desired resultant manifold. This novel method of construction provides mass production costs in small quantity production. For example, a production run of a substantially large number of manifolds may be made wherein the large production provides a relatively few manifolds of each of a plurality of manifold designs.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel manifold structure wherein the area open to the multiplicity of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, or the like, is of greatly increased volume.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel manifold structure wherein the engine cylinders and carburetor venturis are in open communication with a relatively large common area whereby the full efliciency of all venturis is available for each and every cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel manifold structure having a three hundred and sixty degree breathing design for maintaining the fuel-air mixture in a vapor state for increasing the quantity of fuel per volume of air which may be taken into the engine.

A further object of this invention. is to provide a novel manifold structure, particularly designed and constructed for increasing the revolutions per minute of an internal combustion engine whereby the horsepower of the engine is increased.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing manifold structures, and the like, wherein mass production costs may be obtained in the manufacture of relatively small quantities of varied manifold designs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing manifold structures, and the like, wherein a plurality of manifold designs may be economically produced from a single basic pattern.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method for construction of a manifold device, or the like, wherein an adaptor may beutilized in a core box for readily varying the basic pattern whereby relatively small quantities of a plurality of manifold designs may .be cast in a single large production run.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel manifold structure and method of manufacture therefor which is simple and eflicient in operation. and economical and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a manifold structure embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the manifold structure depicted in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character It) generally indicates a manifold structure having a base portion 12 which may be secured in association with substantially any internal combustion engine in any well known manner (not shown) whereby the manifold 10 is interposed between a carburetor or carburetors (not shown) and the cylinders (not shown) of the engine. The usual distributor head (not shown) of the standard 1.9 or stock car may be removed and replaced by the base 12 wherein the manifold 16 may be utilized for converting substantially any stock or standard automobile into a racing vehicle or hot rod, or the like, for increased driving performance.

A substantially rectangular housing 14 extends upwardly from the base 12 and is preferably integral therewith or secured thereto by means of welding, or the like, whereby the entire manifold may be manufactured by a casting method. The base 12 is of any suitable well known construction for utilization with an internal combustion engine in lieu of the standard block or distributor head thereof and is provided with communicating ports 16 and 18 whereby the usual radiator hose (not shown) may be threadedly or otherwise secured to the port 16 in order that the water may be circulated during operation of the engine in the usual manner. A pair of spaced ports 20 and 22 may also be provided in the base 12 for suitable connection with the usual heater hoses normally in association with an internal combustion engine. An additional port 24, particularly shown in FIGURE 1 at the right hand portion thereof, may be provided to receive the usual distributor shaft (not shown) therethrough.

The manifold structure itself comprises the housing 14 and is provided with a substantially flat upper surface 2-6 having a plurality of spaced openings or ports 28, 28a, 28b and 28c provided therein. It is to be understood that whereas four ports 28 are depicted herein there is no intention to limit the invention to the number of ports. In addition, whereas the ports 28 depicted herein are elongated, they may be of substantially any desired configuration in accordance with the carburetor arrangement to be utilized therewith. The ports 28, 28a, 28b and 28c are provided to receive the venturi or venturis of the carburetor which is utilized in conjunction with the manifold 10. In the particular embodiment depicted herein, the manifold is designed for receiving and supporting two four barrel carburetors whereby one of the four barrel carburetors may be bolted or otherwise secured to the surface 26 whereby the four venturis thereof are in open communication with the ports 28 and 280. Similarly, the second four barrel carburetors may be bolted or otherwise secured to the surface 26 whereby the four venturis thereof are in communication or disposed within the ports 28b and 280.

The interior of the housing 14 is substantially hollow or open whereby a common chamber 30 is open to all eight of the venturis for receiving the fuel-air mixture therein. A pair of spaced outwardly extending bosses 32 and 34 are provided on one side of the housing 14 and are hollow or open to provide discharge channels 36 and 38, respectively. Similar outwardly extending bosses 40 and 42 are spaced on the opposite side of the housing 14 and are hollow and open to provide outlet passageways 44 and 46, respectively. Each of the ports or passageways 36, 38, 44 and 46 are in communication with a plurality of the engine cylinders (not shown) whereby communication is established between the open area 30 and each of the engine cylinders. It is anticipated that the particular embodiment depicted herein is to be utilized with an eight cylinder engine and, thus, each of the passageways 36, 38, 44 and 46 is in communication with two cylinders. In addition, a pair of spaced baffles or webs 48 and 50 are provided within the chamber 30 and interposed between the ports 28b28c and 2828a, respectively, as particularly shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. The baffles 48 and 50 .are, thus, interposed between each pair of complementary or corresponding venturis of each four barrel carburetor for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

Operation The manifold 10 may be installed in substantially any standard vehicle to improve the driving efficiency and performance thereof by removing the normal distributor block of the stock or standard car and suitably securing I to each and every cylinder.

the base 12 in lieu thereof. A pair of four barrel carburetors may be bolted or otherwise secured to the surface 26, as hereinbefore set forth, whereby the venturis thereof are disposed within or in communication with the ports 28, 28a, 28b and 280. The usual four barrel carburetor comprises four venturis in respective association whereby one pair thereof consists of a primary and a secondary venturi disposed in substantial alignment and the other pair thereof consists of a similar primary and secondary venturi in substantial alignment and parallel to the first mentioned venturis. The carburetors are utilized or operate in the normal fashion therefor whereby the venturis sequentially discharge a fuel-air mixture into the common chamber 30. The baffle 48 within the chamber 30 separates the respective pairs of primary and secondary venturis of one carburetor and the bafile 50 similarly separates the pairs of primary and secondary venturis of the second carburetor. Thus, the fuel-air mixture initially discharged into the common area 30 by one pair of primary and secondary venturis is separated from the fuelair mixture discharged therein by the second pair of primary and secondary venturis of each carburetor.

The fuel discharged into the manifold 10 is contained within the relatively large area 30 and it will be apparent that all of the ports 36, 38, 44 and 46 are open to the common area 30 whereby the fuel-air mixture supplied to each port is drawn from a common reservoir, thus, assuring a uniform fuel and uniform distribution of the fuel This relatively large open and common area open to the venturis results in less reduction of pressure while still providing a great increase in engine velocity. In other words, it is possible to get substantially full efiiciency for all venturis and for each and every engine cylinder. This increases the horsepower of the engine by increasing the revolutions per minute thereof since the speed with which an engine can draw fuel controls the operating performance thereof. The particular design of the manifold 10 wherein the relatively large common area 30 is open to all venturis and all cylinders provides a three hundred and sixty degree breathing design which maintains the fuel-air mixture in a vapor state with relatively little drop-out of the fuel since the temperature of the fuel-air mixture is maintained relatively constant and at the optimum temperature therefor. This greatly increases the quantity of fuel which may be taken into the engine.

It is to be understood that the manifold 10 may be utilized with substantially any carburetor or supercharger and is not in any manner limited to the two four barrel carburetors set forth herein. Of course, the inlet ports will be designed in accordance with the carburetor to be utilized in conjunction with the manifold.

Construction The novel method of construction of a plurality of manifold designs incorporating a relatively large common area open to all venturis and cylinders is accomplished by a casting operation which is unique and whereby relatively small numbers of each carburetor design may be produced at mass production costs. In order to construct or manufacture a complete line of manifold structures for utilization with substantially all models or carburetors and superchargers, it is only necessary to alter the upper portion or roof of the core box and each modification of the core box is utilized with a single basic pattern. Since the upper surface 26 of the manifold 10, regardless of the particular design thereof, is substantially flat, an adaptor having the appropriate design for producing the particular configuration and number of ports in accordance with the carburetor or supercharger to be utilized therewith may be quickly and easily utilized with a common core box and, of course, the core box thus altered may be utilized with the basic pattern.

This method of manufacture may be used with a great number of varied manifold structures. In a pouring or casting operation, an excessive or great number of manifolds may be cast in a mass production method. During the casting operation, the required number of one particular style or model manifold may be poured,'the core box may then be quickly altered in accordance with an additional manifold design by changing the roof adaptor, the required number of the second manifold design may then be poured, and the process repeated until the entire quantity of variable manifolds are poured or cast. In other words, it is possible to produce ten thousand manifolds or great quantities in a single production run wherein the ten thousand manifolds produced may include one thousand manifolds each of ten different designs. It will be readily apparent that such a method of construction greatly reduces the manufacturing costs and permits the production of relatively small numbers of individual manifold designs and costs normally available only in mass production assembly of great numbers of a single manifold design.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel manifold design for greatly increasing the efliciency and overall performance of an internal combusion engine. utilized in conjunction with substantially any stock or standard automobile, or the like, for readily converting the automobile into a racing vehicle, hot rod, or other- I wise improved performance vehicle. In addition, the novel method of manufacture of the manifold permits the construction of a plurality of varied manifold designs in an economical manner not heretofore possible.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A manifold structure comprising a housing, a chamber provided within the housing, a plurality of inlet ports provided in the housing in communication with said chamber for directing a fuel-air mixture thereto, baffle means provided in the housing and extending into a portion of the chamber and being interposed between the single ports of associated pairs of inlet ponts for separating the initial incoming flow of the fuel-air mixture, a plurality of spaced outlet ports provided in the housing and in communication with the chamber for exhausting the fuel-air mixture therefrom, said inlet ports and outlet ports in common communication with the chamber whereby each outlet port is provided with a uniform mixture and volume thereof for discharge from the chamber.

The novel manifold may be.

2. A manifold structure for utilization with a carburetor and internal combustion engine, and comprising means for interposing the manifold .between the carburetor and engine, an internal chamber provided in the manifold, inlet ports provided in the housing and open to the internal chamber for directing a fuel-air mixture from the carburetor thereto, outlet ports provided in the housing and open to the internal chamber for directing the fuel-air mixture to the engine for operation thereof, said inlet and outlet ports being in common communication with the internal chamber whereby uniform distribution of the fuel-air mixture is supplied from each outlet port to the engine for increasing the performance there of, and baffle means provided within the internal chamber and being interposed between the single ports of adjacent pairs of inlet ports for separating the initial flow of the incoming fuel-air mixture through the inlet ports.

3. A manifold structure for utilization with a carburetor and an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, and comprising a housing having an internal chamber therein, inlet ports provided in the housing in one wall of the internal'chamber for directing a fuel-air mixture from the carburetor to the internal chamber, a plurality of outlet ports provided in the housing and open to the internal chamber for directing the fuel air mixture from the internal chamber to the cylinders of the engine, said inlet and outlet ports being commonly open to the interior of the housing whereby the fuel-air mixture is directed uniformly to each engine cylinder for improving performance of the engine, and baflle means provided in the internal chamber and interposed between the single ports of adjacent pairs of inlet ports for separating the initial flow of fluid entering the internal chamber from the carburetor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,699,279 1/1929 Carpenter 29--l56.4 2,160,922 6/1939 Sullivan 123-52 2,806,457 9/1957 Moseley 12352 2,882,875 4/1959 Kolbe 123-52 2,898,898 8/1959 Burch 123-52 3,052,960 9/1962 Burrell 29--156.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 620,251 3/ 1949 Great Britain.

KARL I. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Examiner.

A. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MANIFOLD STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A CHAMBER PROVIDED WITHIN THE HOUSING, A PLURALITY OF INLET PORTS PROVIDED IN THE HOUSING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER FOR DIRECTING A FUEL-AIR MIXTURE THERETO, BAFFLE MEANS PROVIDED IN THE HOUSING AND EXTENDING INTO A PORTION OF THE CHAMBER AND BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE SINGLE PORTS OF ASSOCIATED PAIRS OF INLET PORTS FOR SEPARATING THE INITIAL INCOMING FLOW OF THE FUEL-AIR MIXTURE, A PLURALITY OF SPACED OUTLET PORTS PROVIDED IN THE HOUSING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHAMBER FOR EXHAUSTING THE FUEL-AIR MIXTURE THEREFROM, SAID INLET PORTS AND OUTLET PORTS IN COMMON COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHAMBER WHEREBY EACH OUTLET PORT IS PROVIDED WITH A UNIFORM MIXTURE AND VOLUME THEREOF FOR DISCHARGE FROM THE CHAMBER. 